Representatives from the Deaf Action Center (DAC) in Abilene will be at the health department on Thursday, Dec. 12 at 11a.m. to talk about their services. The DAC serves people who are deaf and hard of hearing with a comprehensive range of services. They will educate and train people in coping and communication strategies, assistive devices and Relay Texas Service and more. DAC assists the hard of hearing, deaf, deaf/blind, vision impaired, speech impaired and mobility impaired, in receiving free communication devices from the State of Texas. Come and learn about the services that DAC offers.

Representatives from the Deaf Action Center (DAC) in Abilene will be at the health department on Thursday, Dec. 12 at 11a.m. to talk about their services. The DAC serves people who are deaf and hard of hearing with a comprehensive range of services. They will educate and train people in coping and communication strategies, assistive devices and Relay Texas Service and more. DAC assists the hard of hearing, deaf, deaf/blind, vision impaired, speech impaired and mobility impaired, in receiving free communication devices from the State of Texas. Come and learn about the services that DAC offers. Hearing Loss Resource Specialist and Deafness Resource Specialists Programs are funded by DARS office for Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services (DHHS).
The week of Dec. 8-14 is National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW), a national observance that was established to highlight the importance of continuing influenza vaccination, as well as fostering greater use of flu vaccine after the holiday season into January and beyond; to observe NIVW, parents will receive hand sanitizer and wipes during the month of December while supplies last.
The health department wants to encourage residents to use preventive actions:
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, to avoid spreading germs.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone for 24 hours without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)
• While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.
• Get vaccinated for the flu.
The health department will administer the seasonal flu vaccine on Wednesdays during regular immunization clinic. Normally, the immunization clinic is held every Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. with the second Wednesday of each month until 6 p.m., but due to holidays and staff trainings, the health department will not have immunization clinic on Dec. 11, 25 and Jan. 1. The health department will have a late clinic on Dec. 4, due to closure on Dec. 11.
The health department will be closed on Tuesday, Dec. 24, through Thursday, Dec. 26, for the Christmas holidays.
Family Planning services are available through several funding sources. Services include pap smears, breast exams, pregnancy testing, methods of birth control and screening and testing for sexually transmitted infections. For an appointment call 235-2869.
For more information about the services offered by the SNCHD, visit their web site at www.nolancountyhealth.com.
The Sweetwater-Nolan County Health Department does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability or age.